Is America Losing the High Ground?

Technological supremacy serves as the vital input for modern geopolitical power, forcing the United States to move beyond laissez-faire economic policies toward a targeted industrial strategy. By prioritizing production capacity and critical inputs, the U.S. can maintain its competitive edge against China, which increasingly leverages state-directed investment to dominate frontier industries. While export controls on advanced semiconductors remain necessary to preserve a strategic lead, these measures must coexist with high-level diplomatic efforts to mitigate AI-related risks. Former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan emphasizes that the current global landscape is defined by U.S. policy volatility, which allows China to project an image of stability to the global south. Addressing persistent crises in Ukraine and the Middle East requires a recalibrated approach to alliances and a clear-eyed assessment of how domestic political shifts impact long-term American influence.